The Batcave Podcast

How is it possible to top the success of last year's The Return of the Caped Crusaders? You add William Shatner to the mix!  Shatner takes on the role of Harvey Dent/Two-Face in this new feature length film and just as with the previous film, the producers bring us an interesting take on the classic villain.  In this episode, we discuss Adam West's final performance, just how couched in the first season this film is, and our thoughts on the possibility of the series continuing without its lead actor.

We conclude our weeklong look at the creative forces behind the Batman Vs. Two-Face release with interviews with producers Jack Tucker and Michael Jelenic and director Rick Morales.  They discuss the making of this feature, the missed opportunities and the possibility of future projects.

We continue our weeklong series of media roundtable interviews with the stars, producers, and director of Batman Vs. Two-Face with Burt Ward.  As one half of the Dynamic Duo for over 50 years, Ward is still as enthusiastic about the role as he was when he first donned the cape and mask.  Here, he talks about the movie and his friend Adam West.  Thanks to Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension, who got to sit in on these roundtable interview events and recorded audio for all of them.

Last year's The Return of the Caped Crusader proved so popular, it only made sense that a sequel would be developed.  And how does one raise the stakes for a sequel?  You bring in the legendary William Shatner to voice a villain many fans hoped to see in the original run of the 66 series - Two-Face.  

Factory Entertainment has an impressive selection of favorite genre collectibles from Game of Thrones to The Green Hornet to ​Ghostbusters to many more.  And now they've created the ultimate Batman 66 collectible in the form of fully functional Batcave.  Barry Eldridge, creative director for Factory Entertainment joins John and Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension to discuss how the project came about, what one can expect from the collectible, and how one can obtain a copy.

AIRED: FEBRUARY 10, 1967 The Hornet is shot when he stumbles on two crooked cops helping themselves to the leftovers from a robbery.  How can he get medical help when every cop in the city is looking for him?    Jim and John find this story fascinating as it puts the Hornet and Kato immediately into the action, gives Kato extra screen time, and features a scene that the recent Green Hornet movie would use as well.​

The Penguin gets himself a computer and begins plotting crimes with it.  Soon, it's a battle between Penguin's computer and the Batcomputer and then with the Dynamic Duo themselves.  Plus, we have the premiere of the Scarecrow on the cartoon.  But he doesn't have the same MO as most fans are accustomed to seeing.

The Hornet is trying to broker a deal between two rival gangs, but the arrival of Mike Axford nearly threatens the whole thing. A quick thinking Hornet makes it look like Axford's dead. But one of the gangsters discovers Oxford's alive and that the Hornet is double crossing them.  If this sounds more like a comedy than a drama or adventure story, you might not be mistaken. John postulates to Jim that this could be The Green Hornet's attempt at humor that didn't go over very well.  

August 16 marks the birthday of Ms. Julie Newmar.  Her role as the first Catwoman on screen still stands as the template that every other actress has followed as she defined the role.  To celebrate, John invites Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension into the Batcave to talk about Ms. Newmar's Catwoman, her roles before and after the Batman 66 series, the characteristics that distinguish a Julie Newmar performance, and her love of gardening.  Plus, Dan release how his friendship with Ms. Newmar developed.

This is an interesting duo of episodes. First, the Joker runs for mayor and wins in "Hizzoner the Joker". What is it like when a criminal holds a public office? And then, Mr. Freeze is back and using a Viking hoax to commit crimes in Gotham City. WARNING: If you do not have a sense of humor about the current political situation, this episode of the podcast will not be for you.

AIRED: JANUARY 13 & 27, 1967   A two-part story brings us a cast of characters and a murder mystery where the Hornet is the prime suspect.  This story has a lot going for it, but it also has a number of clumsy elements including a duplicate Hornet and Black Beauty which appears to have no real purpose to the plot other than it looks cool.  John and Jim are pretty much on the same page when it comes to this story and John is happy to see, albeit briefly, actress Angelique Pettyjohn.

We've had two villain team-ups, but what about three?  Joker, Penguin, and Riddler get together and engage in a contest to see who will control Gotham City's criminal empire. How about Catwoman getting them to abandon their competition with a plan to cripple the GCPD, making the city ripe for the taking?  It's all here, plus Batgirl and Alfred in a story that could easily be a sequel to the 66 Batman movie. For our solo story, we have Riddler and Catwoman committing crimes by tunneling under the city.

A big thank you to all who downloaded and commented on The All-Star Adam West Tribute. It was a labor of love for John to put together and he's glad to see that it helped many who are coping with the passing of our Caped Crusader. In the rush to get it out though, John missed placing one of the contributions into the episode.  He presents it here with his humblest apologies to illustrator Al Bigley. Here now is Al's thoughts on the passing of Adam West and his memories of meeting the man himself. 

Adam West's passing has proven to be an even larger blow to the Batman 66 community than ever imagined.  We've received numerous requests to join in on the first tribute episode we presented last week.  It just wouldn't have been possible to have a coherent conversation with so many people. In order to give everyone a chance to have their say, John is presenting a second tribute episode where each participant offers his thoughts on Adam's passing and what his role as Batman meant to each.

It's the first new piece of equipment we see in Batman's arsenal against crime in the Batman 66 motion picture.  It comes equipped with a Bat Ladder, Bat Shark Repellent Bat Spray, and a mobile crime lab.  It's the Batcopter!  ​John and Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension sit down to discuss this aviation wonder.  But unlike their previous discussion of the Batmobile, they have someone who is quite familiar with the workings of the Batcopter.  He's owner/pilot Eugene Nock.